Philip shares, “The dual bed FUSION®? Best decision we could’ve ever made. When they purchased their FUSION®, for example, they knew it could last fifteen years – they paid it off in about two. When planning machine purchases, this durability plays a critical role – both in terms of longevity and machine stamina. What’s more, their DESTINY’s are each 14 yrs old and still running strong. Old World’s first piece of Park equipment, a Jaguar saw, lasted for 18 years. You do the preventative maintenance, which is very straightforward and easy, and these things last forever.” Which isn’t much of an overstatement. He says it this way, “I think our machines speak for themselves. Old World boasts an impressive machine line-up: a two-table FUSION®, a VELOCITY®, a FASTBACK® II, two PRO-EDGE® IV’s, two DESTINY XE’s, a Pathfinder®, and two YUKON® II’s.īeyond the customer focus and service mindset, Philip keeps choosing Park for the durability of their equipment. In spring of 2020, they added a FASTBACK® II Edge Polisher to handle their flat-edge polishing production. We could never imagine going back to just bridge saws and hand fab.” I came out of with a whole new world to think about. It felt like Park Industries® was only there to help your business change for the better, not to sell you a machine. Regarding the content, he adds, “It was purely educational. Period.”Īn educational event for fabricators making the same digital journey as Philip, there was a lot of information to help him get started, and many other fabricators for him to network with. He describes the event this way, “The first Digital Stone Expo™ that I went to was… I’ve got to say the best event I’ve been to in the industry. To accelerate his digital learnings, Philip later attended Park’s Digital Stoneworking Expo™. When Philip agreed to lead Old World’s digital transition, they purchased their first CNC machine at Coverings just weeks later…a dual-table FUSION® CNC Sawjet. At the time, Old World had not gone digital, but it was something that had been considered for years. And we cherish that.”Īfter working at Old World Tile and Granite for about a year, and despite enjoying the work, Philip wanted to be able to apply his degree. We’ve got someone who’s got our back.” He adds, “They treat their success the same way we treat ours, which is we’re not successful and we have not accomplished what we need to unless the end user is fully satisfied. When asked how their experience with Park has been different, Philip replies, “We really rely on the customer service that we receive. In 2001, Old World Tile & Granite purchased their first of many machines from Park Industries®, starting a 19 year and counting relationship. A company that could back up their quality machinery with dedicated service was paramount to them. We were down, that one bridge saw (100% of their production at the time) for a solid month.”Īfter experiencing that service nightmare, they knew they needed an American company they could depend on for their machinery needs. Let alone, when we finally did, it took a month to get a part. Philip recalls, “Just getting in contact with someone was like pulling teeth. When the saw needed service, to say it was a frustrating process would be a gross understatement. In 1990, Old World purchased their first stone saw from an Italian company. The majority of their work is laminated and stacked lam edges, with only 5% of their work being non-laminated or mitered. There is not a stone, porcelain, or even metal on occasion that Old World does not fabricate with their machines.Ī lot of their fabrication is miter work, architectural pieces, and high-end custom fabrication. Today, Old World Tile and Granite works with a variety of materials, including some of the most challenging ones. As the market changed, they found a niche with natural stone fabrication and grew into areas beyond just countertops. Over the years, Old World Tile and Granite expanded their business. As the company grew, people started asking for granite countertops, which seemed to be a natural fit with tile work. Mike Kern, Philip’s father, started Old World Tile and Granite as a tile setter over forty years ago. Moreover, the differences between work life and family life stood out in stark contrast to one another as Philip worked to navigate these new waters. Because his dad owned the business, people often assumed that Philip was familiar with the stone industry – he wasn’t. Starting out wasn’t always smooth sailing. And it was during this first year that Philip discovered his passion for the craft of stone fabrication. His dad’s business, Old World Tile & Granite, seemed like a logical, convenient place for this interim year. After earning a Mathematics degree, Philip Kern needed one year of career experience before being able to start his MBA.
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